Women of Other Faiths
Using common values contained in their respective teachings, women of all religious traditions can work together and collaborate in many areas especially peace building and women’s empowerment. Collectively women of all faiths can learn from each other’s struggles and histories, while showing support for women’s religious leadership roles worldwide. Please contribute to this archive by suggesting women of all faiths to be featured through our recommendation form.
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Rani Jindan
You put me in the cage and locked me up. For all your locks and your sentries, I got out by my magic ... I had told you plainly not to push me too hard — but don’t think I ran away, understand well, that I escape by myself unaided ...
Known For: Maharaja’s Wife and Regent of the Throne; Fought For India’s Freedom
Dates: 1817 – 1863
Faith: Sikhism
Country: Pakistan
About
Rani Jindan was born in Chachar, Gujranwala, now in Pakistan. Though she was from a small village, she was selected to become the 17th wife of the Maharaja Ranjit Singh. As his wife she gave birth to Duleep Singh, who was elevated to the throne of the Punjab; she acted as regent.
Jindan became an important symbol of resistance for Sikhs against the British. After the First Anglo-Sikh war in 1846, the British took control of Lahore and deposed her son. She refused to give up the fight. She continued to harass and plot against them. After restricting her movements, contacts and even access to her son, the frustrated British resorted to imprisonment. Jindan was still determined, and in 1849 she escaped and fled to Nepal.
The majority of her life after this point was spent in Nepal, where she wrote letters and advocated on behalf of Sikhs. Meanwhile her son was exiled to London. At the end of her life she longed to be with him and was allowed to move to London for her final years. After her death the British allowed her remains to be brought to India but not to her native Punjab.
